User interface for stylus-based user input

• US 6,938,221 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2001
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nguyen, Vu
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Application Number:
  US09/998,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20030107607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,369 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/863, 715/864, 715/802, 715/808, 715/810, 715/708, 345/173, 345/179, 345/716, 345/863, 345/864, 345/802, 345/810, 345/808, 345/708
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1075 using a touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A stylus user interface for a computer system having a display is disclosed. The user interface receives stylus-based user input. Responsive to receiving the user input, the user interface displays a menu that includes selectable items. By selecting one of the selectable items, the user directs the computer system to generate right-mouse button input or to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as hover cursor input, keyboard-like input, or handwriting input.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions for providing a user interface for use with a stylus, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions for:

re-routing stylus-based user input to a first application that is executing under an operating system (OS), the input being re-routed such that the input is not received by the operating system for distribution to any second application that is executing under the OS;

analyzing the input to determine whether the input should be treated as mouse input; and

responsive to determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse input, displaying a menu comprising selectable items to allow a user to direct the computer system to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as right-mouse button input, hover cursor input, keyboard input, or handwriting input by selecting one of the selectable items.

2. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the second application is designed to receive user input from the operating system.

3. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions for analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should be treated as a mouse event when the event is a single quick touch or a double quick touch.

4. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse event when the input is a continuous touch input.

5. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, further comprising instructions responsive to determining that the event should be treated as a mouse event, the instructions communicating the input to the operating system for subsequent distribution to any other applications such as the second application.

6. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, further comprising instructions for:

determining whether an item of the selectable items has been selected within a predetermined amount of time since presenting the menu; and

responsive to determining that the item has not been selected within the predetermined amount, dismissing the menu.

7. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the selectable items are displayed in an action area, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

identifying stylus-based user input outside of the action area; and

responsive to identifying the stylus-based user input, dismissing the menu.

8. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, further comprising instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detection the selection;

(a) hiding the menu; and

(b) performing a task corresponding to the item.

9. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the task comprises:

(a) communicating right mouse click input the second application;

(b) moving a cursor over a display screen;

(c) generating keyboard input;

or (d) generating and interpreting handwritten data.

10. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 1, wherein the instructions for allowing a user to specify that the computer system is to interpret a subsequent stylus-based user input event as a mouse-right-button click event, a hover cursor event, keyboard event, or a handwriting event further comprise instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detecting the selection;

(a) hiding the menu;

(b) performing a task that corresponds to the item, the task having a result; and

(c) communicating the result as input to the second application.

11. A computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor for;

re-routing stylus-based user input to a first application that is executing under an operating system (OS), the input being re-routed such that the input is not received by the operating system for distribution to any second application that is executing under the OS;

analyzing the input to determine whether the input should be treated as mouse input; and

responsive to determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse input, displaying a menu comprising selectable items to allow a user to direct the computer system to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as right-mouse button input, hover cursor input, keyboard input, or handwriting input by selecting one of the selectable items.

12. A computing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the second application is designed to receive user input from the operating system.

13. A computing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions for analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should be treated as a mouse event when the event is a single quick touch or a double quick touch.

14. A computing device as recited in claim 11, wherein analyzing the input further comprise instructions for determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse event when the input is a continuous touch input.

15. A computing device as recited in claim 11, further comprising instructions responsive to determining that the event should be treated as a mouse event, the instructions communicating the input to the operating system for subsequent distribution to any other applications such as the second application.

16. A computing device as recited in claim 11, further comprising instructions for:

determining whether an item of the selectable items has been selected within a predetermined amount of time since presenting the menu; and

responsive to determining that the item has not been selected within the predetermined amount, dismissing the menu.

17. A computing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the selectable items are displayed in an action area, and wherein the computer-executable instructions further comprise instructions for:

identifying stylus-based user input outside of the action area; and

responsive to identifying the stylus-based user input, dismissing the menu.

18. A computing device as recited in claim 11, further comprising instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detection the selection;

(a) hiding the menu; and

(b) performing a task corresponding to the item.

19. A computing device recited in claim 18, wherein the task comprises:

(a) communicating right mouse click input to the second application;

(b) moving a cursor over a display screen;

(c) generating keyboard input;

or (d) generating and interpreting handwritten data.

20. A computing device as recited in claim 11, wherein the instructions for allowing a user to specify that the computer system is to interpret a subsequent stylus-based user input event as a mouse-right-button click event, a hover cursor event, keyboard event, or a handwriting event further comprise instructions for:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detecting the selection;

(a) hiding the menu;

(b) performing a task that corresponds to the item, the task having a result; and

(c) communicating the result as input to the second application.

21. A method comprising:

re-routing stylus-based user input to a first application that is executing under an operating system (OS), the input being re-routed such that the input is not received by the operating system for distribution to any second application that is executing under the OS;

analyzing the input to determine whether the input should be treated as mouse input; and

responsive to determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse input, displaying a menu comprising selectable items to allow a user to direct the computer system to interpret one or more subsequent stylus-based user inputs as right-mouse button input, hover cursor input, keyboard input, or handwriting input by selecting one of the selectable items.

22. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the second application is designed to receive user input from the operating system.

23. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein analyzing the input further comprises determining that the input should be treated as a mouse event when the event is a single quick touch or a double quick touch.

24. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein analyzing the input further comprises determining that the input should not be treated as a mouse event when the input is a continuous touch input.

25. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising, responsive to determining that the event should be treated as a mouse event, communicating the input to the operating system for subsequent distribution to any other applications such as the second application.

26. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

determining whether an item of the selectable items has been selected within a predetermined amount of time since presenting the menu; and

responsive to determining that the item has not been selected within the predetermined amount, dismissing the menu.

27. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein the selectable items are displayed in an action area, and further comprising:

identifying stylus-based user input outside of the action area; and

responsive to identifying the stylus-based user input, dismissing the menu.

28. A method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detection the selection;

(a) hiding the menu; and

(b) performing a task corresponding to the item.

29. A method as recited in claim 28, wherein the task comprises:

(a) communicating right mouse click input to the second application;

(b) moving a cursor over a display screen;

(c) generating keyboard input;

or (d) generating and interpreting handwritten data.

30. A method as recited in claim 21, wherein allowing a user to specify that the computer system is to interpret a subsequent stylus-based user input event as a mouse-right-button click event, a hover cursor event, keyboard event, or a handwriting event further comprises:

detecting selection of an item of the selectable items; and

responsive to detecting the selection;

(a) hiding the menu;

(b) performing a task that corresponds to the item, the task having a result; and

(c) communicating the result as input to the second application.